Planning for your home renovation - Spend Better, Style Better Ep 1

10 August 2018

Channel Nine’s The Block judge and Suncorp ambassador Shaynna Blaze presents Home Hacks, a series of tips and tricks that can help you save money and add value to your home.

Whether you’re about to begin a renovation or just want to freshen up your home’s décor, get advice from one of the best in the business.The Block judge and Suncorp ambassador Shaynna Blaze presents this 11-part series of home tips and hacks that could help you save money and add value to your home.

Each episode will focus on a particular interior design theme, like how to bring the outdoors in, how to use textures to add luxury plus so much more.

No matter whether you’re a beginner, or experienced renovator, add this series to your must-watch list to spend better and style better.

Home Hacks – Epsiode 1

Hi there, I’m Shaynna Blaze and welcome to the very first episode of Spend Better, Style Better, Home Hacks, presented by Suncorp.

We’ve been listening to what you want in your home and created a series to help you freshen up your living space without breaking the bank.

Each episode will focus on a particular interior design theme, like minimalism, using textures to add luxury, bringing the outdoors in with clever planting and so much more.

But before we get started, here are a few tips from me to you.

First up, if you want to freshen up your whole home - start with a game plan.

Document what you want to do, create a sample board of surfaces and colours and consider what has to be done first and what you can wait for.

Secondly, remember you want to love how you live with your new style.

Think about how the room functions with your lifestyle and make sure you are realistic about wear and tear especially if you have children and pets.

And finally, consider all your resource options when purchasing - don’t fall in love too quickly, make sure you do your research and shop around to see where else you can source an item from - it could save you.

Before starting your renovation

Start with a renovation game plan

Before you start a major renovation or even just sprucing up your home, it’s best to start with a plan.

Shaynna is a big supporter of creating sample boards of surfaces and colours to help visualise what the finished product will look like.

Document all the products, the colours and styles you like and keep track of what is important to you – this may change over time as your taste and budget changes.

Once you’ve created your game plan and happy to lock in your choices, think about what you should tackle first. If you enjoy entertaining and want to create a better dining space, you may want to start with your dining room and kitchen.

Know your budget. Organising your finances using an online tool can help you plan efficiently and realistically.

Be realistic about your new home style

If you have found a style you love in a magazine or have seen on TV, consider if it’s really suitable for your home and your lifestyle. Weigh up your budget against your taste and be realistic with what you can achieve.

Think about the functionality of the room and how it will change especially if you have kids and pets. Factor in wear and tear when you’re selecting furniture. Make sure your home will look great and be safe for everyone.

Shop around

Once you’ve made a plan and locked it in, there’s no need to jump straight into it. Take time to research and shop around for the right tradies, builders, and painters and visit a few furniture shops to see where else you can source an item. If you're furniture shopping and can wait for the sales or quieter periods, you could get a whole lot more for your money. You can connect with local tradies in your area via hipages.

Next up

Shaynna explains the importance of quality over quantity when planning your home improvements.

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